Burger Odendaal the big winner at #BullsAwards17

Burger Odendaal poses with his awards at the Bulls function at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday night. Photo: Vata Ngobeni

PRETORIA – It has been a year of mixed emotions for Bulls centre Burger Odendaal.

After enduring the pain of being part of the Bulls dismal Super Rugby campaign, Odendaal finished off the year on a high after leading the Blue Bulls to the semi-finals of the Currie Cup.

And the season culminated in Odendaal walking away with the Bulls Senior Player of the Year, Currie Cup Players’ Player of the Year and Super Rugby Coaches’ Recognition Awards on Wednesday night.

The 24-year-old Odendaal was by far one of the few stand-out players in the Bulls’ Super Rugby season that saw them only manage to win four out of their 15 games.

It had a detrimental impact as Odendaal did not achieve higher honours, even with the SA ‘A’ side that played against the French Barbarians.

But the hard-running midfielder proved his worth in the Currie Cup as he showed his versatility by moving from inside to outside centre while leading from the front when handed the captaincy under John Mitchell.

In the Currie Cup, prop Pierre Schoeman and new Springbok Warrick Gelant took the Forward and Back of the Year Awards, respectively.

Pote Human was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Tuks team to victory in the Varsity Cup, and he finished off the year by being forwards coach with the Currie Cup side and will do the same job with the Super Rugby team next year.